Night of Fear (film)

Night of Fear
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Terry Bourke
Produced by	Rod Hay
Written by	Terry Bourke
Starring	Norman Yemm Carla Hoogeveen Mike Dorsey Briony Behets
Cinematography	Peter Hendry
Edited by	Ray Alchin
Production company	Terryrod
Distributed by	Umbrella Entertainment (2005 DVD)
Release date	18 March 1973
Running time	50:51
Country	Australia
Language	English

Night of Fear is a 1972 Australian horror film, directed by Terry Bourke. It was written by Bourke and produced by Rod Hay. It is about a woman who is terrorised by a serial killer in the woods. Its theme and style bears a resemblance to the horror classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, released two years later. The film is notable for having no dialogue or character names. It has been called "the first Australian horror movie of the renaissance".

The film was featured in the documentary Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation!.

A young woman crashes her car on a lonely country road. She is terrorised by a crazed hermit.

The film was shot over twelve days in mid 1972. It was originally intended to be a pilot for TV series called Fright. The Australian Broadcasting Commission provided a crew and 35mm production facilities in exchange for television rights.

The film was initially banned in Australia by the OFLC. The makers of Night of Fear appealed to the review board and it was released in November 1972 with an 'R' (18+) rating. It has since been re-classified 'M' (15+).

The film enjoyed a profitable run in independent cinemas and drive ins.

AllMovie wrote, "Night of Fear is a potent, no-frills little shocker that is likely to delight fans of vintage horror", complimenting its "excellent use of whiplash-speed editing, bizarre camera angles and a densely layered soundtrack to create a consistently unnerving atmosphere."

The film was released on DVD alongside fellow Australian horror film Inn of the Damned (also directed by Bourke) by Umbrella Entertainment on 16 March 2005.